Cancer Forecast for October 2008

As October takes off, you'll give your best time to a vital home or property situation. If you do, you'll see plenty of progress in the first two weeks. You may have just moved, are planning to do special repairs, or are looking to buy a special piece of furniture. If you need a new roommate, a place to stay, or simply want to look into new things to buy for your home, start looking into options immediately.

If the physical space you live in isn't due for a change or upgrade, and if you aren't focused on other property, you may be thinking about your parents. They may be making a few headlines in your life, hopefully for a good reason. Perhaps they are moving to a sunnier, warmer climate or are about to take a wonderful second honeymoon. It could be just about anything.

Mars is about to leave this sector on October 4 and you'll lose a bit of emphasis - even so, you will still have the energy of the mighty Sun and new moon behind you for two more weeks. October will bring you your best home and family options that you will have for some time.

Your next opportunity will come when Venus, the planet ruling your house of home, conjoins Jupiter, giver of gifts and luck, on December 1, 2008, for another hit of luck. That moment will only offer a short window of opportunity, but it will be a powerful one. If you cannot find satisfaction in October with real estate or domestic or family options and decisions, then know you have that date, December 1, 2008, when you will be due for a short burst of very strong luck. After that, you will need to wait until the full moon of April 9, 2009 for progress on the home front.

Mercury will retrograde all month, until October 15, and not fully regulate its orbit until October 20. That may pose a bit of a problem. Mercury happens to be in the very area we are discussing - your house of home and property - so it would not be wise for you to sign documents or make any big moves just yet. Use the time you have doing research, collecting information, taking measurements, getting estimates, or if choosing a roommate, interviewing candidates. Be ready to act on or after October 20.

Sometimes we can't avoid the problems of Mercury retrograde, for it is an aspect that often causes havoc in regard to shipping, buying, or selling. Furniture we ordered while Mercury was direct arrives damaged or is the wrong item, or the roommate we chose when Mercury was direct suddenly says she has new plans as soon as Mercury goes retrograde. We do the best we can.

Don't buy electronics now. Wait until late month to buy that new flat screen TV or computer or cell phone because if you do buy your item you will not be happy with your purchase. Your new electronic may not work well; a newer, better model may come out later; or the price may drop, making you feel you paid too high a price.

Sometimes, however, things work out to your favor when Mercury reverses. A seller who did not accept your bid on his house may have a change of heart and come back to invite you to bid again - and this time you would get the house you wanted after all. Examples like this happen all the time.

Mercury retrograde periods are ideal for sifting through possessions to decide which to keep and which to box up and give away to charity. It is also ideal for reorganizing your space by moving furniture, which changes the look and feel of the space with things you already have. You can do repairs that you have meant to complete but never got around to doing. You might refinish a table or repaint a room. These would be ideal activities for you this month, assuming you know how to refinish furniture or paint!

It is also OK to move when Mercury is out of phase, as long as you signed the lease or closed on the house prior to this month, well in advance of the retrograde. (Mercury went retrograde September 23, but was troublesome for about ten days prior to that.) If you have to sign papers now, do so with the realization that your plans are almost certain to change soon and you will have to go with the flow when that happens.

If you are moving, mark your boxes clearly on all four sides. If you are moving state to state, know the trucking rules. My friend recently moved to New York City from Denver in a previous retrograde, and she was shocked to learn the police would not allow her trucker's truck to enter the tunnel into Manhattan. She is a single woman so she didn't have that much in the truck, but nevertheless, her trucker was turned away twice.

My friend's possessions had to be switched to two smaller trucks, and for that she had to pay an additional $700. Had she called me immediately (she was moving into an apartment on the next block from me) I would have suggested they go over the George Washington bridge and not take the tunnel (unnecessary) and not have the expense of changing trucks. However, she told me about this problem an hour AFTER they moved her things into two different trucks. Of course she told me later - Mercury was retrograde.

You would have thought the trucking company would have known the New York traffic rules, but the company was based in Denver and hardly ever had jobs that took them into Manhattan.

The moral of the story is you will have to do a lot of your own research, even if this does not seem fair. Her two trucks finally arrived at 2 AM and the apartment building where she was moving into never allows tenants to move in after 4 PM. More nail biting ensued, but luckily, the landlord bent the rules and let the move take place. Had he said no, she would have paid even more to the moving company. Mama mia!

You have a big month coming up, because there is more news due!

A big career matter is about to reach a big milestone or turning point on October 14 plus or minus four days. Neptune will be very friendly, so you may be involved with a new job that allows you to show your artistic, stylish side.

I want to mention that your creativity is about to take a big leap forward at this time, so if ever there was a time to experiment and even take a risk, it's now, after October 20. This is a very big trend that is just beginning to heat up and that will take you over the coming four weeks.

If you are self-employed - and many Cancers are - you may get a new client at the full moon or see your name written up in the papers. No matter what happens at this time, since this full moon will fall in your tenth house of fame and honors, you will be perceived as having taken a step up the ladder of success. Great!

Love will be positively brilliant for you too this month. (With an emphasis on home, career, and love, you will really have it made in October!) Trust that love is on the way, even if you don't see evidence of this immediately. You'll have too much on your mind with home and career heating up for you prior to the full moon October 14, but after October 20 you will move into your most bewitching time of the year. If you want to meet someone new, it looks like fate has plans for you!

October through the first half of November should be special for several reasons. Venus will cruise your true love sector for the first time all year, from the start of your forecast period, October 1, to October 17. This is always a good sign - Venus makes love happen easily, almost without trying. There will be more aspects to help you enjoy love, and together they will boost this trend to a whole higher level.

You've got that. Mars will enter the same true love sector from October 4 until November 15. You haven't had the Red Planet's help in TWO years! This is fantastic!

Also this month, the Sun will move into your true love house on October 20, and one week later on October 28 will meet with the lovely lady, the new moon. The new moon is known to package all the prevailing energy and push it into action. Wow, dear Cancer! Once you get to that new moon, you'll really see how active your social life will become, but it could happen sooner, as a result of the efforts of Venus, Mars, Jupiter, or Uranus - each planet will play a part this month, along with the Sun and new moon. When have you ever had cosmic support so strong for romance?

Let's identify your very best days for love.

First, over the weekend of October 4-5, Venus and Jupiter will converse and set up a very sensuous, luxurious experience for you to enjoy. You may decide to travel for fun, and if so, you have a great weekend to go. Bring your partner if you have one, for he or she would play a big part in your enjoyment.

Second, if you don't have a partner, your special day will be either October 9 or 10 - both will be outstanding. Venus will signal Uranus in the wee hours of the morning on Friday, October 10, on the East Coast of the USA (1:45 AM EDT and 6:45 GMT). As you see, this aspect will peak early on Friday morning, making Thursday the possibly bigger day for love. I am splitting hairs, so I want you to watch both days - you may suddenly meet someone new, for Uranus brings what you least expect, possibly a meeting in a way you would not have imagined.

Even if you DO have a partner, these two days, October 9 and 10, should be special. Again, with Uranus cruising your ninth house of travel, you may get a chance to travel very unexpectedly. If you can take a vacation to a distant or near point, do - it would turn out great.

On October 27, Mars will reach out to Jupiter, linking your two houses of true love and marriage. If you are in an established relationship, this day should show you why you fell in love with your partner in the first place. If you are not yet attached in any official way, you might be by the time it's over.

I know few people get engaged for Halloween (Christmas and Valentine's Day tend to lead the list, as well as the bride's birthday), but actually, I got engaged a few days before Halloween. It was for my husband-to-be's birthday, October 26. So it is possible! (Yeah, it was for his birthday. What can I say? The lease to his apartment was about to be up on his apartment soon and we had to make a decision!)

On the heels of this aspect is the beautiful new moon. Every year we get thirteen new moons and thirteen full moons coming every four weeks. They fall in various points in the chart. Some are friendly and some are not. (Remember last month's full moon on September 15? I had written that would be a witch of a full moon, and boy, oh, boy, was it!) My point in mentioning all this is that you will have one of the loveliest new moons of the year on October 28. It's my favorite, and lucky you, it falls in your house of true love.

The actions you take in the two weeks that follow that new moon on October 28 will set up your life experience in the coming year or longer, possibly even forever! You must circulate this month, all month, and step up the socializing at month's end and into early November.

If you were born on June 27 plus or minus five days, this gorgeous new moon will have your name written all over it.

If you were not born at this time of the year, you may still feel the zing of Cupid's arrow, because you may have planets, like Venus or Mars, that are at 6 degrees of a water sign, and that would mean you would be poised to win. (Add five more degrees in either direction). You don't have to wonder or even have your natal chart done - just wait and see what happens. You must make an effort however, but you will be helped by many planets if you do.

Finishing off the month on October 31, Mars and Uranus will be beautifully angled, bubbling up fun, love, and creativity. Yes, you must go to that Halloween party you were invited to, or at the least, open your door to little children who come by in their little outfits. You will laugh so much.

Try to go out. This is year Halloween will be different and better in every way than any other coming before, thanks to Mars and Uranus working together. This is your day to kick up fun - and if single, you never know whom you'll meet!

Summary

As October opens, you can prove that when it comes to home decorating, you can be your very own design star. Your home will be the center of your attention now, and you can make lots of progress. If you need to move, the options you will find for new spaces will be perfect - one will be just your cup of tea! If you need to find a roommate, October will bring you the right person, almost miraculously. You'd do best, however, to make your decision AFTER October 20, not before, as Mercury will be retrograde prior to October 15 but will still be acting a bit dizzy for five additional days. It is never a good time to sign important papers while Mercury, planet of thinking and good judgment, is not fully operational.

As any artist knows, creativity begins with a clean canvas, so ruthlessly weed out clutter at home. Identify things you want to keep, and pack up those things you designate for charity. The lamp your aunt gave you and you never liked? It's time to find it a new home. The old vases you kept from floral deliveries? They're taking valuable space. The "when in doubt, throw it out" rule applies in a big way this month, thanks to Mercury retrograde in your home sector that will ask you to reconsider all your possessions.

Aim for superb organization - in your closet, drawers, and even your computer files. Find things that need repair or refinishing or tasks that have languished unfinished, for this is your time to get those old projects on track and finished. Use Mercury's "look back" energy to help you make room for new things you will add soon - things you will enjoy much more than the old items you've held on to for too long. You may want to call in the painters now too, so that your home will look great for the coming holidays. Order furniture or ask for contractor estimates now, but buy the furniture and order the contractor on or after October 20, no sooner or you'll encounter delays and problems with your order.

After you feather your nest, love will flow. Mars will be stirring the pot all month in your fifth house of romance, and with Venus there too until October 18, you've got it made. These two cosmic lovers will give you a huge advantage in matters of the heart. Although your work life will be busy, you'll be able to find the time to socialize quite a bit, too.

Outstanding weekends to plan a special night out would be October 4-5 and 9 -10, when Venus will meet with Jupiter. Later, Venus will blow a kiss to Uranus, so October 25-27 should be outstandingly sweet for love as well. Don't forget Halloween! Many people love this holiday, and this month the man or woman behind the mask at a party you attend may be your true love - Mars and Uranus will be working together to cook up great fun and a lovely surprise or two.

In regard to your career, expect some sort of huge professional development to crystallize at the full moon, October 14 plus or minus five days. Expect a major promotion, client, or new job. Pluto will be friendly to that full moon, so you can get help from an influential professional. If you need a reference, or just some good old-fashioned career advice, ask!

Amid all the activity that October will bring, you'll be able to fit in a quick road trip, perhaps to view fall foliage, or to visit a sibling or cousin. Being out of town will refresh you, and although travel has become more expensive these days, your stars suggest you need not go far to have fun. The weekends of October 4-5 and October 10-12 would be the right time to hop in the car and drive away with your suitcase and digital camera in the trunk.

Key dates:

Best romantic evenings: October 1-19, but doubly so on October 4-5, 9-10. Add too: October 25-27.

After the new moon appears, October 28, you'll get another shot at love AGAIN in the weeks to come. Lucky you!

A career development will prove to bring a powerful and important turning point on October 14, plus or minus four days.

Take a quick trip out of town: October 4-5 or October 10.

Make improvements to your living situation: all month, but particularly from October 28 onward.

Focus on reorganizing or repairing your home: October 1-20.

Order furniture and make other improvements: October 20-30.

Mercury will be retrograde; don't sign papers until on or after October 20.